Yarn severing means for knitting machines



May 24, 1966 A. E. KAESE 3,252,307

YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Arthur L. K0252 uy 0% A TTORNE Y.

FlE- E1 Fl E- Q May 24, 1966 A. E. KAESE YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 15, 1963 I INVENTOR Arthur 5 Kaese BY fl/A/ 207 ATTORNEY.

May 24, 1966 A. E. KAESE 3,252,307

YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 FlE- E1 IN V EN TOR. Arthur E fifaese A TTORNE Y.

May 24, 1966 A. E. KAESE 3,252,307

YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FlE- 'LU was ea //a w: I 2/3 203 200 I98 I I9! 20/ 2/2 A35 I N V EN TOR. Arthur 5 Kane BYM/JO/ZWU ATTORNEY.

May 24, 1966 A. E. KAESE YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 15, 1963 INVENTOR Arthur E AZ: BY WQA ATTORNEY.

M y 4, 1966 A. E. KAESE 3,252,307

YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 I NVENTOR. Arthur E Mesa BY d y fla ATTORNEY.

y 24, 1966 A. E. KAESE 3,252,307

YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 FiE- ELEJ 26 PlE- EE 742 502 755 505 255 255 25a 5/ 25/ 272 275 4 (ID 75/ 225 252 275 24 I g 285 I 277} v 507555 26825 25 257 27/ 75/ 255 55 I00 /02 I i 252 255 I g5 g5 50 INVENTOR. Ari/wk 5 Kaese Elf/579 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,252,307 YARN SEVERING MEANS FUR KNITTING MACHINES Arthur Kaese, West Lawn, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 258,741 15 Claims. (Cl. 66-134) This invention relates to circular knitting machines having means for knitting main and reinforcing yarns fed to the needles of the machine to be formed into unreinforced and reinforced portions in knitted fabrics and more particularly to means for severing the reinforcing yarn close to the first and last needles to knit it in each course of the reinforced portion of the fabric.

In present knitting machines and particularly such machines having a plurality of stations for knitting ladies seamless stockings, the yarns employed are introduced into and removed from knitting action by yarn feeding means and, following both the introduction and removal of each yarn, it is severed close to the fabric. The yarn severing means commonly employed is mounted on the dial mechanism for forming turned welts on the stockings and includes a toothed annulus adapted to rotate with the dial and needles of the machine, -a fixed cutting element cooperating with the upper surface of the teeth of the annulus for severing the yarns at each station and a suction tube associated with the cutting element at each station for holding the ends of the yarns extending from the feeding means following the removal of .the yarns from knitting position and for removing the waste ends of yarns following severance when the yarns are again returned to knitting action.

When a yarn is removed from knitting act-ion the yarn is carried by the last needle to knit it into a tooth of the annulus spaced from and trailing the last needle and then as the annulus and needle continue to rotate the yarn is carried beneath the suction tube and to the cutting element where it is severed between the yarn stitch on the last needle and the feeding means for the yarn. The end of the yarn extending from the feeding means is thereupon withdrawn into and held in the suction tube. When the yarn is again returned to knitting action, the yarn is carried by the first needle to knit into a tooth of the annulus which is closely adjacent to the first needle and is then carried thereby to the cutting element for severance between the suction tube and yarn stitch on the first needle, following which the waste end of yarn is withdrawn through the suction tube to a collecting point.

In the normal operating position of the dial the distance from the upper surface of the annulus and the stitches on the firstand last needles, which are held at the level of the throats of the sinkers at the time the yarn is severed, is such that the ends of yarn extending from both the first and last stitches are normally approximately one-quarter and three-eighths of an inch in length, respectively. Main yarn ends of such lengths are not considered objectionable inasmuch as such main yarn changes are made at only a few spaced points in the stocking. However, where a reinforcing yarn is also incorporated with the main yarn to form a reinforced portion in the stocking and the reinforcing yarn is severed close to both the first and last needles to knit it in each reinforced course, concentration of yarn ends of the usual normal length at both sides of the reinforcement impart an unsightly appearance in the finished stocking and are therefore objectionable.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a circular knitting machine having means to knit both main and reinforcing yarns in a tubular fabric and means for severing the main and reinforcing yarns close to the first and last stitches formed of the yarns in a manner that will overcome the above mentioned and other objections to prior known devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for severing yarns on a circular knitting machine, the severing means having a first position in relation to the fabricating means of the machine for severing the main yarns fed to the fabricating means and a second position in relation to the fabricating means for severing reinforcing yarns fed to thefabricating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a circular knitting machine attaining the foregoing objects in which the second position of the severing means is closer'to the fabricating means than said first position for severing the reinforcing yarn adjacent the first and last stitches formed of the reinforcing yarn by the fabricating means.

A still further object is to provide a circular knitting machine with means for severing yarns fed to the fabricating means of the machine, the severing means including an annulus rotatable with the fabricating means and having peripheral teeth into which the yarn is drawn by the first and last needle to knit the yarn and is carried thereby to a cutting element cooperating with the teeth for severance adjacent the stitches formed by the first and last needles of the fabricating means. The machine also has means for moving the severing means to a first position in relation to the fabricating means to sever a main yarn adjacent the stitches formed thereof by the first and last needles, and means for moving the severing means to a second position closer to the fabricating means to sever a reinforcing yarn adjacent the stitches formed thereof by the first and last needle. The machine has further means, acting when the severing means is in the second position, for moving the reinforcing yarn, extending from between the feeding means and the last needle, to a position in which a portion of the yarn extends radially and inwardly of the last needle at the time the yarn is drawn into a tooth of the annulus.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the following detailed description of .the illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and cooperation of parts, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a circular knitting machine having rhechanism according to the instant invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is an elevational View of the mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale with certain parts being broken away and other parts being shown in cross section;

FIG. 4 is a view as seen from the left of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but with the parts shown in different positions relative to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of the arrows 88 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view as seen from the left of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view of a portion of the mechanism of FIG. 3 with parts being broken away and shown in cross section;

11-11 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 1212 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 with the parts shown in different positions relative to FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a developed view of the needle operating cams and jack selecting and operating cams of the machine in which the invention is incorporated;

FIG. 15 is a view of the yarn severing means of the machine taken in the direction of the arrows 15-15 of FIG. 3 and illustrating one stage in the normal operation thereof;

FIG. 16 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing another operating stage;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 16 taken in the direction of the arrows 1818 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 17 showing a further operating stage of the yarn severing means;

FIG. 20 is a, view similar to FIG. 18 taken in the direction of the arrows 2020 of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 19 illustrating the same operating stage of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 22 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 3 showing a modified form of mechanism according to the instant invention;

FIG. 23 is a plan view of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 2424 of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 25-25 of FIG. 22; and

'FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 2626 of FIG. 23.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, there is shown a portion of a circular knitting machine adapted to knit fine gauge ladies seamless stockings, the machine including a needle cylinder 25 having slots 26 for slidably mounting a circular series of latch needles 27. A pattern jack 28 andan intermediate jack 29 (FIG. 14) is mounted in each of the slots for acting on the needle thereof. The machine also includes sinkers 30 mounted for radial sliding movement relative to the needles in slots 31 in outer and inner sinker rings 32 and 35, respectively, mounted on the needle cylinder in a conventional manner, and a sinker cap 36 having cams (not shown) for operating the sinkers. The machine which is adapted for multifeed knitting is provided with main and auxiliary knitting stations 37 and 40, respectively, and the needles are operated by cams acting on the butts thereof at the main and auxiliary stations to form yarns fed to the needles by guide fingers at each of the stations.

The cams for operating on the butts of the needles 27 at the main station 37 (FIG. 14) include a forward stitch cam 42, a reverse stitch cam 43 which is radially retractable out of the path of the butts in a common manner, a center cam 45, a cam 46 associated with the forward stitch cam for raising the needles following stitch drawing movements in the forward direction and a cam 47 associated with the reverse stitch cam for raising the needles following stitch drawing movements in the reverse direction. Also associated with the cams at station 37 are retractable auxiliary raising and lowering cams 48 and 50, respectively, guard cams 51 and 52 and a center or needle leveling cam 53. The cams for operating the needles 27 at the auxiliary station includes a stitch cam 55 which acts on the needles only during forward movements, an upper cam 56, a cam 57 associated with the stitch cam 55 for raising the needles following stitch drawing movements and retractable auxiliary raising and lowering cams 58 and 60, respectively. The stitch cam 55 is radially retractable out of the path of the needle butts to inactivate station 40 when it is desired to knit at only the main sta- 4% tion as in reciprocating operation of the machine to form heel and toe portions in the stocking fabrics.

The pattern jacks 28 are adapted to be selected and raised at each of the stations to in turn act on the needles to form design patterns in the stocking fabrics. The jacks 28, which are of the rocking type, have a lower lug 61 adapted for engagement with a raising cam 62 at the main station 37 when the lower ends of the jacks are rocked outwardly through engagement of a presser cam 63 with upper portions 65 of the jacks. The jacks are also provided with breakable pattern butts 66 adapted to be engaged by selector levers 67 to again move the lugs 61 on the jacks out of the path of .the cam 62 after the jacks have been rocked outwardly by the presser cams 63. Likewise at station 40, the lugs 61 are adapted for engagement with a raising cam 68, when the lower ends are rocked outwardly through engagement with a presser cam 70, with the upper portions 65 of the jacks and the pattern butts 66 being adapted to be acted on by selector levers 71 to again move the lugs out of the path of cam 68 after the jacks have been rocked outwardly by the presser cam. Following each raising movement of the jacks 28 by earns 62 and 68, the jacks are again lowered by cams acting on butts of the jacks 29 in a common manner. Each of thepattern jacks is also provided with a high butt 72 intermediate the portion 65 and the pattern butts 66 for purposes hereinafter set forth.

During plain knitting with the cylinder 25 rotating in a forward or counterclockwise direction, the needles 27 approach station 37 along a path 73, commonly referred to as the tuck path or level, and are first raised over the reverse stitch cam 43 to a stitch clearing level 74 to clear the previously formed stitches on the needles and the needles are then lowered by the cam 45 to take a main yarn and then by cam 42 to form the yarn into stitches. At the auxiliary station 40 all of the jacks after being rocked outwardly by cam 70 are raised by cam 68 to in turn raise the needles to stitch clearing level to clear the stitches formed at the main station 37 and the needles are then lowered by cam 56 to take a main yarn and then by cam 55 to form the yarn into stitches.

Where it is also desired to knit a reinforcing yarn with the main yarn to reinforce portions of the stocking fabric at one or the other of the knitting stations, the needles are firstcleared and then again lowered to'the tucking level by the auxiliary raising and lowering cams associated with the station at which the reinforcing yarn is to be incorporated. The needles that are to take and knit both the main and reinforcing yarns are then selected and again raised to clearing level by the jacks while the other needles remain at the tucking level to take and knit only the main yarn. I

The guide fingers at the main station 37 include guide fingers 75 for the main yarns and a guide finger 76 for a reinforcing yarn, the latter finger being adapted to feed its yarn to the needles at a higher level than the fingers 75 in a common manner, The guide fingers 75 and 76 are pivoted on a fixed part 77 of the machine and are moved between active yarn feeding positions and inactive positions by lifter members 80 which are in turn operated in a common manner from a pattern drum of the machine. Likewise the auxiliary station 40 is provided with guide fingers 75 for the main yarns and a finger 76 for a reinforcing yarn. The fingers 75, which are pivoted on a latch ring 81, are moved between active yarn feeding positions and inactive positions by lifter members 82 which are pivoted on a bracket 83 carried on a plate 85 forming a part of the framework of the machine. The lifter members 82 are connected by rods 86 operated from one of the pattern drums of the machine. The finger 76 at station 40 is also pivoted on the latch ring 81 and is moved between active and inactive positions by a lifter member 87 which is connected, to and operated by a rod 88 from the pattern drum.

The machine is also provided with convential dial mechanism 90 including a bed member 9-1 having radially extending slots 92 for slida-bly mounting transfer bits 93, a cam ring 95 for operating on the butts of the transfer bits and a dial cap 96 loosely mounted on a bearing portion 98 of a bracket 100 secured to the latch ring 81. The bed member 91 is secured to the lower end of a vertically extending shaft 97 (FIG. rotatably carried in the bore of the bearing portion 98. The latch ring 81 is supported for pivotal movement on a fixed part of the machine whereby the latch ring and dial mechanism may be raised to inactive position above the needle cylinder 25 in a conventional manner. A bevel gear 101 is keyed on the shaft 97 to turn therewith. The shaft together with the bed member 9 1 and dial cap 96 is adapted to be moved axially of the bearing 98 and gear 101 from the full line position, which is the normal operating position of the dial mechanism shown in FIG. 3, to the dotand-dash line position shown in FIG. 3 in the manner and for purposes hereinafter set forth. The gear 101 meshes with a bevel gear 102 which is fixed on one end of a shaft 103 mounted for rotation in the bracket 100. The other end of the shaft 103 carries a bevel gear 105 which meshes with a bevel gear 106. The gears 101, 102, 105 and 106 aredriven in a conventional manner to rotate the shaft 97 and bed member 91 in synchronism with the needle cylinder 25.

During the knitting of the stockings the guide fingers 75 for the main yarns at the main and auxiliary knitting stations are operated to move the yarns into and out of knitting position according to a predetermined sequence in a common manner. When a yarn is removed from knitting position, the yarn is severed closely adjacent to the circle of needles and to the last stitch to be formed thereby, and the yarn extending from the guide finger is engaged and held by holding means until the yarn is again returned to knitting position. Also when the yarn is returned to knitting position it is again severed close to the circle of needles and to the first stitch to be formed thereby. The yarn severing and holding means shown in connection with the instant invention is of the type generally shown in Patent No. 2,824,436, and includes an annulus 107 having peripheral teeth 108 pitched in the direction of the counterclockwise or rotary movement of the cylinder 25. The annulus 107 is positioned between the bed member 91 and the cam, ring 90 and is provided with means cooperating with certain of the transfer bits 93 as set forth in Patent No. 2,824,436 to cause the annulus to rotate with the bed member. Cooperating with the upper edges of the teeth 108 for severing the yarns fed to the needles at the auxiliary station 40 is a cutting element 110 (FIGS. 1 and 3). A cutting element 111, similar to cutting element 110 is provided for severing the yarns fed to the needles at the main station (FIGS. 1 and Intermediate the positions of guide fingers 75 and the cutter element associated with each of the knitting stations 37 and 40 'is a yarn restraining member 112 which is secured to the dial cap 96 and a suction tube 113 which is connected to a vacuum pump or the like (not shown) adapted to create a flow of air into the open end of the tube.

With the dial mechanism in its normal operating position when a main yarn is to be removed from knitting position at each of the knitting stations, the guide finger 75 for the yarn is raised to inactive position and as the last needle, indicated at 27a in FIGS. 17 and 18, to take the yarn is lowered along the stitch forming path, the yarn is caught in a tooth 108 of the annulus 107 trailing the last needle 27a. Thereupon as the needles and annulus continue'to rotate the yarn is carried beneath the restraining member 11 2 and suction tube 113 by the last needle 27a and into engagement with the cutting element associated with the station for severence, following which the end of the yarn between the restraining member and cutting element is withdrawn into and held by the suction tube. When the yarn is again returned to knitting position by lowering the guide finger to active position, the yarn is drawn by the first needle, indicated at 27b in FIGS. 15 and. 16, to take and knit it into a tooth of the annulus slightly in advance of the needle 27b. The yarn is'then carried to the severing member for severance between the first needle 27b and the suction tube 113 as the annulus and needles rotate. At this time the yarn is withdrawn from beneath the restraining member and the waste end of yarn is withdrawn by the suction tube to a collecting point.

The normal length of the main yarn ends extending from the fabric following severance of the ingoing yarns, indicated in FIG. 16, and the outgoing yarns, indicated in FIG. 18, are equal to the distance bet-ween the top surface of the annulus 107 at the tooth 108 thereof in which the yarn is caught and the first or last stitch formed by the yarn which is held at the level of the throats of the sinkers, indicated by the dot-and-dash line 115 in FIGS. 18 and 16, at the time of severance. As will be noted the length of the ingoing and outgoing yarn ends vary slightly but are both within the range of one-quarter to three-eights of an inch and since such yarn ends normally occur at widely spaced points in the stockings, they do not affect the appearance of the fabric and are generally unnoticeable. However, where a second and usually heavy yarn is introduced into a portion of the stocking in order to reinforce it, such as in the reinforced sole portion, and the reinforcing yarn is severed both at the ingoing and outgoing sides of each reinforced course of the fabric, the normal length of the ends of the reinforcing yarn make an unsightly appearance.

In accordance with the instant invention in order to reduce the length of the ends of the reinforcing yarn at both ends of the rein-forced courses the dial mechanism 90 is adapted to be moved from its normal operating position in relation to the throats of the sinkers, the full line position of the dial mechanism indicated in FIG. 3, to'

a loweredposition. hereinafter referred to as the nonoperating position of the dial indicated in dot-and-dash outline in FIG. 3 to reduce the distance between the top surface of the annulus 107 and level of the sinker throats as shown in FIG. 20. For so moving the dial mechanism from operating to non-operating position, which normally occurs only during the formation of the reinforced portions of the stocking in which both the ingoing and outgoing ends of the reinforcing yarn are severed in each course in which the reinforcing yarn is incorporated, the upper end of shaft 97 loosely carries a member 116 which is restrained against upward movement on the shaft by a pair of knurled nuts 117 threadably carried on the upper end of the shaft. The member 1 16 is provided with a flange 1 18 which adjustably supports the upper ends of downwardly extending rods 120. The lower ends of rods 120 are secured to a plate-like member 121 secured by screws, one of which is shown at 122 in FIG. 3,.-to the upper surface of the dial cap 96.

At its underside, flange 118 has a downwardly projecting portion 123 having a horizontally extending surface 125 adapted to engage a high horizontally extending surface 126 of a portion 127 extending upwardly from an upper surface 128 of a member 130. The surface 125 of portion 123 is connected by an inclined surface 131 to the underside of flange 118 and the high surface .126 of portion 127 is connected by an inclined surface 132 to the upper surface 128 of the member 130. The member is guided for horizontal sliding movement in a recess 133 formed in the upper surface of a bracket 135 secured by screws, one of which is shown at 136 in FIG. 5, to the bracket .100. An elongated slot 137 in the member 130 (FIG. 10) provides clearance for the shaft 97 during horizontal movements of the member. A pin 138 carried in fixed position in the bracket 135 and extending upwardly through an elongated slot 140 in the member 130 engages in an aperture 141 in the flange 118 of 7 member 116 (FIG. 10) to restrain the member 116 against turning movement with the shaft 97 but to permit it to move vertically as hereinafter set forth.

The member 130 is provided with a second upwardly extending portion 142 which has a high surface 143 which is connected to the upper surface 128 of the number 130 by an inclined surface 145. A lever 146, pivoted on a stud 147 carried in a bracket 148 secured to the bracket 135 by screws 150 (FIGS. 2 and is provided with a tail portion 151 at one side of the pivot which is adapted to ride the surfaces 128, 145 and 143 of member 130 during movement thereof in the manner and for purposes hereinafter set forth. At the other side of pivot 147 from tail portion 151, lever 146 has a transversely extending portion 152 adapted to overlie the upper end of the shaft 97, the portion 152 adjustably carrying a threaded bolt 153 for engagement with the upper end of the shaft. Adjacent its left end as viewed in FIG. 3, member 130 is slotted as at 155 to receive an upper end 156 of one arm 157 of a lever 158. The lever 158 is pivoted on a stud 160 mounted in fixed position in a bracket 161 secured to a portion 162 of the machine frame (FIGS. 3 and 4). A second arm 163 of lever 158 is connected by a Bowden wire 165 or the like to a pattern lever 166 which is mounted on a shaft 167 carried in fixed position on the machine (FIG. 2). Lever 166 has a nose portion 168 adapted to be engaged by a cam lug or lugs 170 on a cam drum 171 (FIG. 2) which forms a part of the usual pattern mechanism of the machine. The left end of member 130 is also adapted to be engaged by one arm 172 of a lever 173 pivoted on a stud 175 mounted in fixed position on the bracket 161. Lever 173 has a second arm 176 which is connected by a Bowden wire 177 to a pattern lever 178 on shaft 167 and having a nose portion 180 for engagement with a cam lug similar to cam lug 170 on the drum 171. A spring 181 connected between each of the levers 166 and 178 and a fixed part of the machine biases the nose portions of the levers toward the drum 171.

During the operation of the dial 90 to form the turned Welt portion of a stocking and also preferably in other single yarn course portions of the stocking where one yarn is substituted for another and both the ingoing and outgoing yarns are to be severed, cam lugs on the cam drum 171 operate levers 158 and 173 to position the member 130, as shown in FIG. 3, with the high surface 126 on the member beneath the surface 125 on the flange 118 to maintain the dial in its raised full line position required in the formation of the welt. With the dial in this position any yarn severing that occurs will result in a yarn end extending from the fabric ofsuflicient length to prevent accidental withdrawal of the yarn end from the fabric. When, after completion of the welt, a reinforcing yarn is to be introduced to reinforce the fabric and the reinforcing yarn is to be severed at both the ingoing and outgoing sides of each reinforced course, the dial 90 is lowered to the dot-and-dash line position indicated in FIG. 3. To so lower the dial 90, the cam lug is moved out of engagement with the pattern lever 178 and a cam lug is moved into engagement with the lever 166 to move this lever and lever 158 counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 to shift member 130 to the left from its position of FIG. 3 to align the surface 125 on flange 118 with the surface 128 on the member 130 and the high surface 126 on the member with the low under surface of the flange. Simultaneously with the movement of the member 130 to the left the tail portion 151 rides up the inclined surface 145 to the high surface 143 of portion 142 of the member 130 to turn lever 146 clockwise as viewed in FIG. and this movement of the lever 146 acting through bolt 153 moves shaft 97 and the dial to its lower position indicated in dot-and-dash outline in FIG. 3.

Following the formation of the reinforced portion of the fabric and prior to the start of the welt of the next stocking fabric, the dial isagain returned to its upper full-line position (FIG. 3). To accomplish this, the cam lug on pattern drum 171 is moved from beneath lever 166 and a cam lug is moved beneath lever 178 to turnlever 173 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 to shift the member toward the right to the position indicated in FIG. 3, during which movement of the member 130, the inclined surface 132 thereon acts on the inclined surface 131 on the flange 118 of member 116 to raise the latter together with the shaft 97 and dial mechanism 90.

In addition to moving the dial mechanism 90 to its low position to reduce the length of the severed ends of the reinforcing yarn at both the ingoing and outgoing sides of the reinforcement as hereinbefore set forth, the reinforcing yarn extending between the guide finger 76 and the last needle to knit the yarn in each reinforced course is also engaged and moved inwardly toward the center of the dial so that as the last needle is lowered in its stitch forming movement, the yarn will be Caught in a tooth of the annulus 107 substantially aligned with the last needle. For this purpose there is provided a lever 182 which is pivotally mounted on a stud 183 carried in fixed position on the latch ring 81 (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8). At one side of the stud 183, lever 182 has a downwardly extending finger 185, the lower end of which is provided with a hook 186 adapted to lie closely above the dial cap 96. At the other side of the stud 183, the lever 182 has a nose portion 187 which is adapted to ride on the upper surface of a platform 188 formed on the bracket 83 at the upper end thereof as hereinafter set forth.

Adjacent the nose portion 187, lever 182 is notched to form a curved surface 190 one end of which merges with the nose portion and the other end of which merges with a camming surface 191 formed on one side edge of the lever. Cooperating with the curved surface 190 and camming surface 191 on lever 182, in a manner hereinafter set forth, is a pin 192 which is secured to and depends from one end 193 of a lever 195 mounted intermediate its ends for both pivotal and axial movement on a pin 196 carried in an car 197 extending from the bracket (FIGS. 5 and 11). At the other side of the pivot pin 196 from the end 193 lever 195 has an arm 198 which is provided with a nose portion 200 adapted to at times be positioned to engage a cam 201 mounted on and secured to a hub portion 203 of the gear 101 and at other times to ride on the concentric outer periphery of a hub portion 205 of the cam (FIGS. 6, 7 and 10). The cam 201 has a high surface 206 and a low surface 207, the latter portion being coincident with the outer periphery of the hub portion 205 of the cam.

During knitting of the plain or non-reinforced portions of the fabric, at which time the member 130 is in its right position and the dial 90 is in its normal operating position indicated in FIG. 3, the lever 195 is held in a high position on the pin 196 to align the nose portion 200 with the periphery of the hub 205 by engagement of a lug 208 on the underside of lever 195 with a high horizontal surface 210 of a finger 211 on a bracket 212 (FIG. 11). Bracket 212 is secured to member 130 as by screws 213, and the end of the finger 211 is inclined downwardly from the surface 210 to form a point 215 (FIG. 11). In this position of the lever 195 the nose portion 200 is maintained in engagement with and rides on the hub 205 by a spring 216 connected between the lever 195 and a fixed part of the machine to position the pin 192 as in FIG. 6 and a spring 217, connected between the lever 182 and a fixed part of the machine, holds the curved surface in engagement with the pin 192 to maintain the hook 186 of the finger 185 in its inner position of FIG. 6.

When the dial 90 is lowered to the dot-and-dash position (FIG. 3) by movement of the member 130 to the left, as hereinbefore set forth, the finger 211 is moved with member 130 frombeneath the lug 208 on the lever at which time the lever is lowered on the pin 196 by a spring 218 positioned on the pin between the lever and a head 220 of the pin to engage the nose portion 200 of lever 195 rotate and nose portion 200 again engages the low surface 207 lever 195 is turned clockwise to its position of FIG.

6, and when permitted to do so as hereinafter set forth lever 182 is also turned clockwise by spring 217 to move surface 190 into engagement with the pin 192 and position the finger 185 as in FIG. 6.

The high surface 206 and the low surface 207 of the cam 201 are so related that the finger 185 is maintained in its outer position of FIG. 7 by the high surface 206 until after the last needle to take the reinforcing yarn in the narrow portion of the reinforcement passes the finger. The finger 185 is then moved to its inner position of FIG. 6 as the nose 200 rides from the high to the low surface of the cam. However, where a wider width reinforcement is required, the movement of the-finger 185 from its outer to inner position would occur before the last'needle of the wider portion passes the finger with the result that the finger would miss the reinforcing yarn. In order to maintain the finger 185 in its outer position for a longer period of time than that provided by the high surface 206 of cam 201, the finger after being moved to its outer position is held in such position by engagement of the nose 187 with a latch member 221. The latch member 221, which is in the form of a rod, is guided for vertical movement at its upper end in the platform 188 and in upper and lower arms 222 and 223, respectively, of a bracket 225 secured to a fixed part 226 of the machine (FIGS. 8 and 9). Secured'to the latch member 221 intermediate the arms 222 and 223 is a collar 227 which is adapted to be moved downwardly to a stop position against lower arm 223 by a finger 228 extending from a collar 230 secured to the rod 88 for operating the reinforcing yarn guide finger 76, when the rod 88 is moved to inactivate the guide finger for purposes hereinafter set forth. A spring 231 connected between the upper arm 222 of the bracket 225 and the collar 227 tends to bias the latch member 221 upwardly to the limit defined by engagement of a collar 232 secured to the latch member with the underside of the platform 188, to project the upper end of the latch member into the path of nose portion 187 of the lever 182.

At its lower end the latch member 221 has a lug 233 secured thereto which is adapted to be engaged by one arm 235 of a lever 236 pivotally mounted on a stud 237 carried in the lower end of a bracket 238 secured to the underside of'the plate 85 (FIG. 8). A second arm 240 of the lever 236 is adapted to engage a rear face 241 of a head portion 242 of a lever 243 pivoted on a stud 245 mounted in an arm 246 projecting from the bracket 238 (FIGS. 9 and 12). A spring 247 connected between the lever 243 and a fixed part of the machine biases the lever 243 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 12 to maintain the face 241 in engagement with the arm 240 of lever 236 and the arm 235 of the lever 236 in engagement with the lug 233 on the latch member 221 (FIG. 8). The head portion 242 is supported on a platform 248 formed on the bracket 238 for movement toward and away from the needle cylinder 25, movement of the head portion toward the needle cylinder being limited by engagement of a pin 250 on the head portion with a stop member 251 secured to the bracket 238 (FIGS. 8 and 13). At the side of lever 243 adjacent the cylinder .25, the head portion 242 is provided with a high point 252 and a camming surface 253 leading thereto, the camming surface and the high point being adapted to be engaged by the high butts 72 on the pattern jacks 28 in the low or non-selected position of the jacks in the manner and for purposes hereinafter set forth.

During knitting with only a main yarn at the auxiliary station 40, the dial mechanism 90 is maintained in its normally raised operating position, the nose portion 200 of the lever 195 is aligned with and in engagement with the hub 205 to position the lever 1'82 and finger 185 in the inner position shown in FIG. 6 as hereinbefore set forth. Also at this time the rod 88 is positioned to maintain the guide finger 76 for the reinforcing yarn in inactive non-feeding position. In this position of the rod 88 the finger 228 holds the collar 227 on the latch member 221 in its lower stop position against the lower arm 223 of the bracket 225 to maintain the upper end of the latch member below the top of the platform 188, and the lever 243 is moved by spring 247 to retract the head portion 242 thereof out of the path of the butts 72 on the jacks 28. Thereupon during normal main yarn changes, as the last needle to knit an outgoing yarn is rotated this yarn is caught in a tooth of the annulus 107 trailing the last needle as indicated in FIGS. 17 and 18 and the yarn is then carried by the tooth beneath the member 112 and suction tube 113 and to the cutter 110 for severance and the end of the outgoing yarn extending from the guide finger is engaged and held by the suction tube 113 between the guide finger and cutter. When the yarn is again returned to active knitting position it is drawn -by the first needle to knit it into engagement with a tooth of the annulus slightly in advance of this needle as indicated in FIGS. 15 and 16 and the yarn is then carried by the tooth to the cutter 1110 for severance.

When a reinforcing yarn is to be incorporated with the main yarn at the auxiliary station, the dial mechanism 90 is lowered to the dot-and-dash position of FIG. 3 and the nose portion 198 of the lever 195 is aligned with the cam 201 in the manner hereinbefore set forth. Also the rod 88 is moved upwardly .to lower the guide finger 76 for the reinforcing yarn to feeding position, the finger 228 also being raised at this time to release the latch member 221 and permit spring 231 to bias the latch member upwardly against the lever 182 which at this time is in its position of FIG. 6. Also at this time the jack selecting mechanism at the auxiliary station is activated to select the jacks that are to raise the needles taking both the main and reinforcing yarns.

Thereupon, during each rotation of the needles, with the end of the reinforcing yarn held in the suction tube 113 as shown in FIG. 15, the jacks are selected and raised to in turn raise the needles selected to take the reinforcing yarn, and asthe leading selected needle 27b to take the reinforcing yarn is rotated the yarn is caught in a tooth of the annulus slightly in advance of needle-27b, and the yarn then is carried by the annulus to the cutting element for severance in the same manner as the main yarn hereinbefore set forth. As the leading selected jacks are raised the butts 72 thereon are also raised out of engagement with the high point 252 of the lever 243 which.

would norm-ally permit the spring 231 to raise the latch member 221 and turn lever 243 toward the center of the cylinder 25. However, at this time the lever 185 is still in engagement with the low surface 207 of the cam 201 and the nose portion 187 of lever :182 is overlying the latch member (FIG. 6) thereby retaining the latch member and the lever 243 in their positions of FIG. 8. After the leading needle has taken and knit the reinforcing yarn, the high surface 206 of the cam 20 1 acts to turn lever to its position of FIG. 7 and the latter turns lever 182 to move the finger 185 to its outer position and removes the nose portion 187 from above the latch member 221. The latch member 221 is immediately raised in front of the nose portion 187 and this movement of the latch member acting through lever 236 also turns lever 243 toward the needle cylinder to position the finger 185, the butts 72 remaining at the level of the head portion 242 of the lever 243 on the following unselected jacks, engage the cam surface 253 to turn lever 243 away from the center of the cylinder 25 until the high point 252 is again riding on the butts of the unselected jacks, this movement of lever 243 acting on lever 236 lowers the upper end of the latch member 221 out of the path of movement of the nose portion 187. Thereupon as the nose portion 200 rides from the high surface 206 to the lower surface 207 of the cam 2011 the lever 182 is turned to its position of FIG. 6 during which the reinforcing yarn, extending between the guide finger '76 and the last needle 27a to take the yarn, is caught in the hook 186 and moved toward the center of the cylinder as indicated in FIG. 19. It will be seen that the length of yarn between the hook 186 and the last needle extends substantially on a radial line between the center of the cylinder and the last needle so that the latter needle, as it is lowered to knit, draws the yarn into the tooth of the annulus aligned therewith. Following engagement of the yarn in the tooth of the annulus it is carried thereby to the cutting member 110 for severance, as shown in FIG. 20, and the end of the yarn extending from the guide finger is withdrawn into and held by the suction tube.

It is to be understood that in forming the narrow portions of the reinforcement, the butts 72 on the unselected jacks acton lever 243 to lower the latch member 2-21 out of the path of lever 18-2 at approximately the time the nose portion 200 of lever 195 rides from the high surface 206 to the low surface 207 of the cam 201 at which time the lever 1-82 merely follows the movement of lever 195 to the position of FIG. 6. However, in the wider portions of the reinforcement, the nose portion 200 of the lever 195 may ride from the high to the low surface of the cam before the butts 72 on the unselected jacks 28 engage and actuate the lever 243 to lower the latch member 221 out of the path of the nose portion. At such times the latch member remains in its raised position to hold the lever 1182 in the position of FIG. 7 until the but-ts on the unselected jacks act to lower the latch member and the lever 182 is then moved to the position of FIG. 6 by the spring 217.

The modified form of the invention, shown in FIGS. 21 to 26, is associated with the main station 37 and is adapted to position a reinforcing yarn at this station for severance at the outgoing side of the reinforcement generally in the manner aboveset forth in connection with the severance of the reinforcing yarn fed at the auxiliary station 40. The mechanism of FIGS. 21 to 26 includes a member 255 which is similar to the member 116 and which is similarly mounted on the shaft 97 of the dial mechanism 90. The member 255 is provided with a flange 256 which supports a rod 257 secured to the dial mechanism as indicated in FIG. 22. The flange 256 is provided with an aperture 258 for slidably receiving the pin 138, the pin acting to prevent the member 255 from turning on the shaft 97 but permitting the member 255 to move vertically with the shaft in the same manner as member 116.

The flange 256 is provided with a high surface cooperating with a high surface on a member 260, slidably mounted in the recess 133 in the bracket 135, the high surfaces on the flange 256 and member 260 being similar to the high surfaces 125 and 126 on the flange 1118 and member 130, respectively. The member 260 is provided with slots similar to slots 137 and 140 in the member 130 to clear the shaft 97 and pin 138 and is moved to the right to engage the high surface thereon with the high surface on the flange 256 by the lever 173 to maintain the dial mechanism 90 in the normally raised working position and member 260 is moved to the left by the lever 158 to remove the high surface thereon from beneath the high surface on the flange to permit movement of the dial mechanism to its lower position. When the member 260 is in the latter position a high surface thereon similar to the high surface 143 on the member 130 acts on a lever 261 -to move the shaft 97 and dial mechanism in the same manner as lever 146.

In order to engage the reinforcing yarn between the guide finger for the yarn and the last needle to take and knit it and move the .yarn in the same manner as finger 185, there is provided a finger 262 having a hook-shaped lower end 263. Finger 262 is carried in one arm 265 of a lever 266 pivotally mounted on a stud 267 carried in a bracket 268 (FIGS. 25 and 26). Bracket 268 is secured by a screw 270 to a plate 271 secured to the underside of the bracket 135. A second arm 272 of the lever 266 is adapted to engage a stop screw 275, adjustably carried in a plate 276 secured to the bracket 268 by screws 277, to limit the inward movement of the lever 266 and finger 2'62 toward the center of the needle cylinder as indicated in full lines in FIGS. 22 and 26.

The lever 266 and finger-262 is moved from the inner full line position to an outer position, indicated in dotand-dash outline in FIG. 26 by a finger 280 which is adapted to engage one side arm 272 of thelever. The finger 280 forms a part of a plate 281 which is secured in fixed position, by screws 282 and 283, to a lever 285 pivoted on a stud 286 carried on the plate 271. Lever 285 has a follower surface 287 for engagement with a cam 290 carried on and secured to the hub 203 of gear 101 to rotate with the gear in the same manner as cam 201. A spring 29 1 connected between the lever 285 and fixed position 292 of the machine biases the lever toward the cam 290.

Ca-m 290 is provided with a high portion 295 and a low portion 296, the low portion acting when aligned with the follower surface 287 to permit spring 291 to turn lever 285 and finger 280 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 24, to turn lever 266 counterclockwise and move finger 265 to its outer position as viewed in FIG. 26, the counterclockwise movement of the lever 285 at this time being limited by engagement of the head of screw 283 with astop member 297 secured to the plate 271 (FIG. 25).

In order to move the lever 266 from its outer position to the inner position, the opposite side of arm 272 from finger 280 is adapted to be engaged by an arm 300 of a lever 301 pivotally mounted on a stud 302 fixed in the plate 281 (FIG. 23). A second arm 305 of the lever 301 has a downwardly projecting ear 306 which carries an adjustable stop screw 307. A spring 310 connected between the lever 285 and arm 305 normally biases the arm to hold the set screw 307 in engagement with the edge of the lever 285 as indicated in FIG. 23. Following each movement of lever 285 in the counterclockwise direction to move the finger 26 2 to its outer position as above set forth, which occurs after the first needle to take the reinforcing yarn passes this position of the finger, the high portion 295 of cam 290 acts to again turn lever 285 clockwise to the position of FIG. 24. During this clockwise movement of lever 285, which occurs after the last needle 27a, to take the reinforcing yarn, passes the finger 262, arm 300 of lever 301, which also turns clockwise with the lever 285, engages and turns lever 266 and finger 265 clockwise about the stud 267 to the inner full line position of FIG. 26. During this clockwise movement of the finger 265 the reinforcing yarn, extending between the guide finger 76 and the last needle 27a to knit it, is caught in the hook 263 of the finger and moved toward the center of the needle cylinder as shown in FIG. 21. The length of yarn extending between the hook and last needle extends on a radial line between the center of the needle cylinder and last needle so that this needle as it is lowered to knit draws the yarn into the tooth of the annulus aligned with the needle.

When the member 260 is again moved toward the right by the lever 173 to raise the dial mechanism to its normal operating position, one side edge of the member 260 engages a surface 311 on the plate 281 to maintain the lever 285 in the posit-ion to which it is moved by the high portion 295 of the cam 290 thereby preventing movement of the finger 262 from its inner position while 7 the dial is in its raised position.

It will be understood that the improvements specifically shown and described by which the above described results are obtained can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a knitting machine having a rotatable cylinder, a circle of needles in said cylinder, means for feeding yarn to said needles, means for manipulating said needles to knit courses of fabric stitches from said yarn, means to support each last knitted course of said stitches at a predetermined level, means within said circle of needles for severing a yarn extending from said feeding means to a last knitted stitch of a last knitted course, said severing means comprising a member rotatable with said cylinder and having a cutter element positioned to intercept and carry with it a yarn extending between said feeding means and said last stitch and a second cutter element positioned in the path of rotation of said first cutter element for yarn severing cooperation therewith, a member having a first position for moving said severing means to an elevated position substantially above said level and a second position for supporting said severing means in a lowered position more adjacent said level, a first lever for moving said member to said first position, a second lever for moving said member to said second position prior to a yarn severing operation by said severing means,

pattern means for operating said first and second levers, and a third lever operated by the movement of said member to said second position to move said severing means to said lowered position.

2. In a knitting machine having a rotatable cylinder, a circle of needles in said cylinder, means for feeding a main yarn to said needles to be knit thereby into courses of fabric, means for feeding a second yarn to selected ones of said needles with said main yarn to reinforce portions of the courses knit by said main yarn, means for moving said feeding means for said second yarn from inactive position to active position to feed said second yarn to said selected needles, means for raising said selected needles to take said second yarn, means within said circle of needles for severing said yarns adjacent the first and last needles to knit said yarns, said severing means including an annulus rotatable with said cylinder and having peripheral teeth extending into close proximity to said circle of needles, a cutter element spaced from said yarn feeding means and cooperating with the upper surface of the teeth of said annulus to sever the yarns, and holding means for said yarns between said feeding means and said cutter element, means for moving said severing means between a first position in relation to said needles to sever said main yarn and a second position in'relation to said needles to sever said second yarn, said means for moving said severing means between said first and second positions including a member, a first lever for moving said member to a first position to move said severing means to its first position, a second lever for moving said member to a second position, a third lever operated by the movement of said member to said second position to move said severing means to its second position, and pattern means for operating said first and second levers, said first needle acting in said first position of said severing means to draw the main yarn between said first needle and said holding means into a tooth of said annulus coincident with said first needle to be carried thereby to said cutter element for severance, said last needle acting in said first position of said severing means to draw the main yarn between said feeding means and said last needle into a tooth of said annulus spaced from and trailing said last needle to be carried thereby to said cutter element for severance, said first needle acting in said second position of said severing means to draw said second yarn between said first needle and said holding means into a tooth of said annulus coincident with said first needle, and means acting when said severing means is in said second position to engage and move said second yarn between said last needle and said feeding means toward the center of said cylinder to an inner position in which the yarn extends on a radial line between said engaging means and said last needle whereby said last needle acts to drawn the yarn into a tooth of said annulus coincident with said last needle for conveyance thereby to. said cutter element for severance.

3. In a knitting machine having a rotatable cylinder, a circle of needles in said cylinder, means for feeding a main yarn to said needles to be knit thereby into courses of fabric, means for feeding a second yarn to selected ones of said needles with said main yarn to reinforce portions of the courses knit by said main yarn, means for moving said feeding means for said second yarn from inactive position to active position to feed said second yarn to said selected needles, means for raising said selected needles to take said second yarn, means within said circle of needles for severing said yarns adjacent the first and last needles to knit said yarns, said severing means including an annulus rotatable with said cylinder and having peripheral teeth extending into close proximity to said circle of needles, a cutter element spaced from said yarn feeding means and cooperating with the upper surface of the teeth of said annulus to sever .the yarns, and holding means for said yarns between said feeding means and said cutter element, means for moving said severing means to a first position in relation to said needles to sever said main yarn, means for moving said severing means to a second position in relation to said needles to sever said second yarn, said first needle acting in said first position of said severing means to draw the main yarn between said first needle and said holding means into a tooth of said annulus coincident with said first needle to be carried thereby to said cutter element for severance, said last needle acting in said first position of said severing means to draw the main yarn between said feeding means and said last needle into a tooth of said annulus spaced from and trailing said last needle to be carried thereby to said cutter element for severance, said first needle acting in said second position of said severing means to draw said second yarn between said first needle and said holding means into a tooth of said annulus coincident with said first needle, and means acting when said severing means is in said second position to engage and move said second yarn between said last needle and said feeding means toward the center of said cylinder to an inner position in' which the yarn extends on a radial line between said last needle and said center of said cylinder whereby said last needle acts to draw the yarn into a tooth of said annulus coincident with said last needle for conveyance thereby to said cutter element for severance, said last mentioned means including a finger, a spring for moving said finger to said inner position, a cam rotatable with said cylinder, a lever having an active position to be operated by said cam when said severing means is in said second position tomove said finger from said inner to said outer position, and means for moving said lever between said active position and an inactive position in relation to said cam when said severing means is in said first position whereby said finger is maintained in said inner position.

4. In a machine according to claim 3 in which said means for moving said lever between said active and inactive positions includes said member and there is cam means on said member acting when said member is moved to said first position to move said lever to inactive position, and resilient means for moving said lever to said active position when said member is in said second position.

'5. In a machine according to claim 3 in which there is provided latch means for holding said finger in said outer position against the action of said spring, means for moving said latch means to active position to hold said finger in said outer position, and means for moving said latch means to inactive position to release said finger for movement to said inner position.

6. In a machine according to claim in which said means for moving said latch means to active position comprises spring means.

7. In a machine according to claim 6 in which there is a pattern jack associated with each of said needles in said cylinder, means for selecting said pattern jacks associated with said selected needles, means for raising'said selected jacks from an inactive position to raise selected needles to take said second yarn, and said movement of said latch means to active position by said spring means is controlled in part by said selected jacks raised by said raising means.

8. In a machine according to claim 7 in which the movement of said latch to active position by said spring means is in part controlled by said selected jacks raised by said raising means and is in part controlled by said means for moving said feeding means for said second yarn from inactive to active position.

9. In a machine according to claim 8 in which said means for moving said latch means to inactive position is operated by the jacks in said inactive position.

10. In a machine according to claim 9 in which there is means for maintaining said latch means in inactive position when said severing means is in said first position.

11. In a machine according to claim 10 in which said means for maintaining said latch means in inactive position comprises said means for moving said feeding means for said second yarn from active to inactive positions.

12. In a machine according to claim 3 in which said means for moving said finger to said inner position includes a lever, a first arm on said lever, and cam. means rotatable with said cylinder for moving said lever and first arm in a first direction to engage and move said finger from said outer to said inner position.

13. In a machine according to claim 12 in which said means for moving said finger to said outer position inposition to move said severing means to said first position and a second position to move said severing means to said second position, and said lever and said first and second arms are activated to move said finger between said inner and outer positions when said member is moved to said second position to move said severing means to said second position.

15. In a machine according to claim 14 in which said lever and said first and second arms are inactivated to maintain said finger in said inner position by said member when said member is moved to said first position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 347,505 8/1886 Pepper 66134 1,237,256 8/1917 Scott 66140 X 1,652,500 12/1927 Scott 66134 X 1,945,971 2/1934 Gagne 66145 1,994,041 3/1935 Stewart 66134 2,286,955 6/ 1942 Cloutier 66134 X 2,304,916 12/1942. Hilker et al. 66134 2,824,436 2/ 1958 Stack et al. 66140 3,002,366 '10/ 1961 Brasack et al 66134 X 3,006,173 10/1961 Shoaf 66145 X 3,077,097 2/1963 Butler 66145 X 3,100,977 8/1963 Billi et al. 66145 FOREIGN PATENTS 509,832 10/ 1930 Germany.

511,450 8/1939 Great Britain.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Acting Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiner.

W. C. REYNOLDS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A ROTATABLE CYLINDER, A CIRCLE OF NEEDLES IN SAID CYLINDER, MEANS FOR FEEDING YARN TO SAID NEEDLES, MEANS FOR MANIPULATING SAID NEEDLES TO KNIT COURSES OF FABRIC STITCHES FROM SAID YARN, MEANS TO SUPPORT EACH LAST KNITTED COURSE OF SAID STITCHES AT A PREDETERMINED LEVEL, MEANS WITHIN SAID CIRCLE OF NEEDLES FOR SERVEING A YARN EXTENDING FROM SAID FEEDING MEANS TO A LAST KNITTED STITCH OF A LAST KNITTED COURSE, SAID SEVERING MEANS COMPRISING A MEMBER ROTATABLE WITH SAID CYLINDER AND HAVING A CUTTER ELEMENT POSITIONED TO INTERCEPT AND CARRY WITH A YARN EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FEEDING MEANS AND SAID LAST STITCH AND A SECOND CUTTER ELEMENT POSITIONED IN THE PATH OF ROTATION OF SAID FIRST CUTTER ELEMENT FOR YARN SEVERING COOPERATION THEREWITH, A MEMBER HAVING A FIRST POSITION FOR MOVING SAID SEVERIONG MEANS TO AN ELEVATED POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE SAID LEVEL AND A SECOND POSITION FOR SUPPORTING SAID SEVERING MEANS IN A LOWERED POSITION MORE ADJACENT SAID LEVEL, A FIRST LEVEL FOR MOVING SAID MEMBER TO SAID FIRST POSITION, A SECOND LEVER FOR MOVING SAID MEMBER TO SAID SECOND POSITION PRIOR TO A YARN SEVERING OPERATION BY SAID SEVERING MEANS, PATTERN MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID FIRST AND SECOND LEVERS, AND A THIRD LEVER OPERATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER TO SAID SECOND POSITION TO MOVE SAID SEVERING MEANS TO SAID LOWERED POSITION. 